Journey Into Mystery #645 Review

Loki's long con finally comes to a close.

It's a slightly depressing month to be a Marvel reader, as so many writers are wrapping up multi-year creative runs in preparation for Marvel NOW!. Journey Into Mystery #645 might just outdo every other finale issue so far in terms of the depression factor. The difference between this issue and something like Invincible Iron Man is that it hurts in a good way. Kieron Gillen really knows how to tug at the heartstrings of his devoted readers.

The Everything Burns crossover just wrapped up, but the final chapter quickly dovetailed into a new conflict as Mephisto seized Loki's crown and threatened to become the true ruler of Hell. Resolving that conflict while also satisfactorily capping off young Loki's journey is no small feat for one issue to accomplish. And admittedly, Gillen is forced to severely downplay Mephisto's role in the story. The villain is little more than a lingering presence in the book as Loki works at settling his affairs once and for all.

Gillen could no doubt have expanded this story into a full arc had the Marvel NOW! relaunch not necessitated a strict end point. But ultimately, he focuses on the material that really matters. The script wraps up every loose end worth addressing. It ties back to earlier issues in clever ways, often breaking the fourth wall and addressing the nature of fiction and the role of the reader in the process. The tone is heartbreakingly tragic at times. If you thought Gillen couldn't twist the knife any further than he already did with Leah's "death," her return and apparent betrayal of Loki, or any of the other watershed moments in recent months, you're sorely mistaken. To paraphrase The Dark Knight, it's not necessarily the ending Loki deserved, but it's the one he needed right now.

This finale issue also has the distinction of being entirely illustrated by cover artist Stephanie Hans. Hans brings the same painted detail and fantastical approach she does for the covers, and the result is one of the more visually engaging issues of Gillen's run.

Not that this should come as any great surprise, but the finale to Gillen's Journey Into Mystery saga is well worth reading. It delivers a proper finish to Loki's story, and it sets up an interesting new status quo as both writer and star shift to Young Avengers in 2013.